Automatic cutting device



Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. IVES AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet I Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. IVES 7 AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 '11 sneets-sneet 2 Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. IVES AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 W $w W Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. IVES AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 z jzza Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. was 2,181, 5

AUTOMAT I C CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 28, 1939. c. E IVES AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 14. 1936 1 i071. (Zzfforaff e5 fimvzeg.

Nov. 28, 1939. c. E IVES 21 L AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE File S pt- 1 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Jizdzzfork (ll/fora! ffds,

Nov. 28, 1939. c. E. IVES YAUTOMATIQ CUTTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14. 1936 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 WN M P Nov. 28, ,1939. c. E. IVES AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Sept. 14. 1936 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE Clifford E. Ives, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to Ritchey E. Landis, Chicago, Ill.

This invention relates to improvements in an automatically operated machine, and refers specifically to a machine wherein semi-processed or semi-prepared material is automatically fed, operated upon and automatically discharged as a finished product from the machine- In substantially all phases of the printing art and particularly in specialty printing such as in the printing of advertisements, circulars, calendars, pamphlets, accounting forms, etc., ruled lines either plain or ornamental such as dotted or dashed lines, are frequently used, particularly for borders and division lines. The provision of these lines in the finished print,-of course, required that impression strips of various thicknesses with continuous or dotted impression surfaces be used in conjunction with the set-up type. These strips are usually made of lead or a lead alloy similar to the constitution of the usual printing type and must be so finished as to height and the impression surfaces thereof must be such as to result in the printing of clearly defined, fully inked border lines, division lines, etc.

Although the formation of the type by linotype, monotype or the like is performed by and recognized as a phase of the printing art, the manufacture of strips for printing borders, division lines and the like, through very closely allied to the printing art has acquired a distinct status and comprises an industry of its own.

Printing concerns usually purchase more or less standardized strips from manufacturers of strips and use said strips as their needs dictate. Said strips are usually merchandised in predetermined lengths and the printer cuts said strips to lengths conforming to his own requirements.

As hereinbefore pointed out said strips are constructed of lead or a lead alloy and are initially I formed by moulding, extruding or by like processes. However, the strips as taken from the molds or extruding devices frequently possess defects which render them unsuitable for certain classes of work. The dimensions of said strips particularly as to height (the strips in use being set on edge must necessarily conform in height with the impression surfaces of the type with which they are used) are critical and the impression surfaces of said strips must be smooth to uniformly spread the ink during printing. Moreover, dashed or dotted lines may bedesired which require further operations after molding or extruding. Moreover, strips of each given dimension if used immediately after molding or extruding requires a separate mold which conto plane or mill the strips to desired finish, surface and dimension thereby eliminating the expense of so great a variety of molds and simul- 10 taneously securing a more desirable product. This, however, has been a hand operation and is consequently slow and requires that a skilled worker be employed. Hence, production is decreased and the cost of the strips are raised due to the excessive labor cost.

As a feature of my invention strips or rules, as said strips are sometimes called, maybe planed or finished as a completely automatic operation, the machine being charged with a plurality of 20 said strips as the same come from the molds or extruding device, the charged strips being automatically fed in seriatim to an operating zone wherein they are automatically aligned and. held during the planing or finishing operation, the movement of the machine in feeding a fresh strip to the operating zone simultaneously acting to remove the finished strip from the operating zone.

The machine comprising my invention, although particularly adaptable for the planing and finishing of lead or lead alloy strips may also be used to plane or finish strips constructed of other materials and used for other purposes such as brass strips, Bakelite strips, wood strips or the like.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detail description. 40

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of my planing or finishing machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a continuation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a continuation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 66 of Fig. 4. 50

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the bevelled drive gears wherein an intermittent motion is obtained.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5 and is virtually a continuation of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line !Dlil of Fig. 8 illustrating the mechanism for laterally displacing the finished work discharged from the operating zone.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line IiI I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating the cam operated mechanism shown in Fig. 11 at a different portion of its cycle.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line i3-I3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating the clamping mechanism shown in Fig. 13 in a different position.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the movable carriage illustrating the mounting of the knives or other finishing mechanisms. Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line I5l5 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view taken on line iiilii of Fig. 15.

' Fig. 17 is a plan sectional view taken on line li ii of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view taken on line i3i8 of Fig. 15.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are fragmentary perspective views of strips which may be planed or fin ished upon my machine.

Fig. 22 is a sectional View taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary top plan view of my device illustrating the position of the carriage at the completion of its operative stroke.

Referring in detail to the drawings, with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 9, I indicates a frame which may be of substantially, rectangular cross-section and may have a front side 2, a rear side 3 and end extensions 4.

The frame I may be provided with a top which may be formed integral with the sides 2 and 3, said top being divided longitudinally into substantially two equal areas, the front portion 5 of the top being at a lower level or in a lower plane than the rear portion 6. A rail I may be carried upon the rear portion t of the top and may be formed integral with said top, said rail being of dove-tail section and extending longitudinally upon the top 5 a substantial distance on each side of the center of the frame. The frame I may be carried at each of its ends by legs or supports 8. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the frame I carries the instrumentalities and operating devices comprising my invention, one of which devices comprises a movable carriage 9 which is slidably mounted upon rail I.

Referring particularly to Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18, the various parts comprising the movable carriage 9 are shown in detail. The carriage 9 comprises essentially a body which is designated generally by the reference numeral It]. The lower portion of the body is is coextensive in length with the carriage 9 and is provided with a recess I l which opens toward the bottom face of the body. The recess I! is adapted to cooperate with the dovetail sectioned rail 5 and one side wall of said recess is inclined, as shown at 52 in Fig. 16, at an angle which conforms with one overhanging tapered side of rail I. The opposite side wall of recess H is square or vertical and said body is provided with a plurality of openings or bore holes I3 which are internally threaded to receive set screws i i. A bar I5 is adapted to be positioned adjacent one inclined face of rail 1, the

the reading of scales 23 due to the play of the opposite side of said bar bearing upon the ends of the set screws I4.

As can readily be seen the body it! can be mounted upon the top 6 and the arrangement is such that said body is slidable upon the rail I. By the provision of the adjustable bar i5 the body iii may be maintained in substantially fixed relationship with the rail 7 in so far as lateral movement or movement in a vertical direction is concerned. Moreover, by suitably adjusting the position of bar i5, body I may be permitted to slidably move along rail I and said body will have a minimum amount of play in a lateral or vertical direction. When the desired adjustment has been secured, screws I l may be locked by means of lock nuts I6. As will be hereinafter more fully appreciated, the elimination of substantially all lateral or vertical play of the body iii upon rail I is conducive of more accurate operation of the instrumentalities carried by said body.

' Formed integral with the lower portion of the body H3 is a plurality of spaced walls I which extend upwardly from the rail-engaging portion of the body. A plate I3 may be mounted upon the rear edges of said extension or partitions Il, said plate being secured to said partitions by means of machine screws or the like I9. In like manner a top plate 20 may be secured to the upper edges of said partitions and may be secured thereto by means of screws ZI.

As can readily be seen, compartments 22 are provided between adjacent plates 11, which open toward the front side of the carriage. The compartments 22 are adapted to receive plates 23 which in turn, as will be hereinafter more fully described, carry the operating tools. The rear end of each of the plates may be provided with threaded taps 24 into which the threaded ends of screws 25 may be insertable, the shanks of said screws projecting through the rear wall or plate 18 and carrying at their heads nuts 26. Circular disks 2? may be formed integral with the nuts 26 and may be provided with scales 28 whereby the degree of angular rotation of screws 25 may be ascertained. As can readily be seen, by rotating.

nuts 26, plates 23 may be caused to slide inwardly or outwardly within compartments 22 and the slidable movements of said plates may be ascertained in terms of the degree of angular rotation of nuts 26 as read from the scales 2%. Coil springs 29 may be confined between the inner face of the Wall I8 and the ends of plates 23, said springs being conducive to positive movement of plates 23 and also to the elimination of errors in screw threads. The upper plate 29 may be apertured adjacent each of the compartments 22, said apertures being adapted to receive set screws 30 having polygonal heads 3 i. As is apparent, when the desired position of plates 23 within compartments 22 is obtained by manipulation of screws 25, said plates may be fixed in said position by means of the set screws 30.

A housing 32 may be formed integral with each of the outer ends of plates 23, each of which is provided with a circular bore 33 which open toward the bottom of the housings. A tool carrying member 36 is adapted to be slidably positioned within each of the bores 33 and comprises, when planing operations are to be performed by the adapted to be driven through said segments and through the shank of the planing knife. The upper portion of said segments may be threaded to receive the threaded end of an adjusting screw 40, the shank of which projects through the upper end wall of the housings and terminates in a polygonal shaped nut 41. Formed as an integral portion of each of said nuts is a disk 42 whichmay be provided with a scale 43 for determining the degree of angular movement of each'screw 40. Each of the segments 36 of the tool holding member 34 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 44 and each of the housings 32 is apertured adjacent the position of said slot to receive a set screw 45 which has a polygonal shaped head 46. It can readily be seen that by movement or rotation of each of the nuts 4! each of the tool hold--.

ing members 34' may be raised or lowered within bores 33 and the degree of movement of said tool holding members may be ascertained from interpolated readings of scale 43. When the desired elevation of each of the tool holding members 34 is obtained, set screws 45 may be manipulated to lock said tool holding members within thebores 33. The ends of the planing knives 31 may project below the segmental cylindrical portions 35 and 36 and may terminate in cutting edges 41.

. 31. For instance, if it is desired to produce a rule mover 48 may be adapted to drive by means of belt 49 or otherwise a pulley 50 which may be mounted upon shaft 5 I of a speed reducing mechanism 52. The output shaft 53 of said speed re- I ducing mechanism may carry a sprocket wheel (notshown) which may drive sprocket chain 54. A shaft 55 may be journalled within the frame I and may. extend longitudinally within said frame.

Shaft 55 may carry a sprocket wheel (notshown) which may be driven by chain 54. A bevel gear 56 may be mounted upon one end of shaft 55 and is adapted to mesh with bevel gear 5'! mounted upon shaft 58 which extends transversely through the rear side wall 3 of frame I. A disk 59, Fig. 4,

may be mounted upon the end of shaft 58 and I may carry an eccentric pin 66 which is pivotally connected to arm 6|. It can readily be seen that as shaft 55 is rotated thereby rotating shaft 58, a reciprocating motion is imparted to arm 6|. The

opposite end of arm 6| is connected to a cross.

head 62 which, in turn, carries a rack 63. Rack 63 is supported and guided by the bracket 64 which is secured to the rear side 3 of frame I. A shaft 65 is transversely positioned within frame I and may be journalled at its ends inball bearings 66, a portion of said shaft projecting outside of frame I as shown best at 61 in Fig. 9. A spur gear 68 may be keyed'to the projecting end 67 of shaft 65, said spur gear being adapted to mesh with the teeth of rack 63. It is apparent that as arm 6| is reciprocated, rack 63 will also be reciprocated and in turn will oscillate'the pinion 68 thereby oscillating shaft 65. A spur gear 69' may'be'keyed to shaft 65 within frame I and is adapted to mesh with pinion 10 .carried upon shaft H which may be transversely positioned within frame I and journalled in ball bearings 12. A sprocket wheel 13 may be rigidly secured to shaft H within frame I and may be adapted to drive sprocket chain 14. An opening 15 may be provided in the rear top surface 6 ofl frame l and said sprocket chain 14 is adapted to pass through said opening after said chain is carried over sprocket wheel 13. One end of the chain 14 may be secured to the body portion 10 of carriage 9 as indicated at 16 in Figs. 15 and 17. Sprocket chain 14 may pass around sprocket wheel Tl which may be mounted upon shaft 18 transversely positioned in frame 1 and carried by bearings similar to bearings l2. Shaft 16, however, is positioned at the opposite end of frame I from shaft H. After passing over sprocket wheel TI, chain 14 travels above the surface of the rear top portion ofthe "frame and the end of said chain is secured to the opposite end of carriage 9 as indicated at 19 in Fig. 15. A turnbuckle 80 is interposed in chain 14 and is adaptedto maintain said chain in taut condition.

In operation; reciprocating motion of shaft 6| imparts similar motion to rack 63 which, in turn, oscillates gears68 and 69. This oscillating movement is imparted to gear 10 and, in turn, oscillates sprocket Wheel 13. As sprocket wheel 13 oscillates, chain 14 intermittently moves in opposite directions thereby moving carriage 9 in a reciprocating. manner over the surface of frame I. The degree of movement of carriage 9 is, of course, determined by the throw of the eccentric pin and also by the ratio of the gears 68, 69 and I0, and the size of sprocket wheels Tl. The speed of movement of the carriage 9 is, of course, determined by the ratio of the speeds of the input and output shafts of the speed reducer 52, the ratio of the sprocket wheels mounted upon shafts 53 and 55, and also the ratio of the bevel gears 56 and 5'1. In view of the fact that chain 14 does not travel in a sequentialor endless path over the sprocket wheels 13 and 11, the turnbuckle 89 may be interposed in said chain and, consequently, said chain may be maintained relatively taut thereby eliminating any lost motion due to change of direction of movement of said chain.

Referring particularly to Figs. 15 and 18,8l indicates a portion of the body ll] of carriage 9, the member 8| being formed integral with said body and being of 'U-shape. A plate 82 may be mounted at the upper ends of the legs of the U providing a compartment 83. A hood 84 may be mounted over one end of compartment 83 and may be provided with an opening 85, which is positioned adjacent the path of travel of the knives 41. A closure plate 86 may be mounted at the, opposite end of compartment83, said plate being provided with a central apcrture 8'! over which is positioned a conduit 88 which communicates with compartment 83. As will be hereinafter more fully described, shavings, cuttings or filings removed by the knives 4'! or equivalent tools which may be mounted in the carriage 9, accumulate along the path of travel of said knives or tools. In practice, in order to remove said shavings or cuttings, conduit 88 may be connected to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown) and inasmuch as the compartment 83 is thereby maintained under vacuum, the shavings or cuttings may be drawn upwardly through the openings 85, which, as hasbeen hereinbefore doe scribed, is disposed adjacent the path of travel of knives 41.

If desired, the compartment 83, hood 'Mand accompanying apparatus for removing the shavings, may be mounted upon the opposite or trailing end of the carriage instead of the leading end as shown. Further, whether positioned at the leading or trailingend of the carriage, air or fluid under sup-eratmospheric pressure may be used instead of vacuum, in which case the shav ings and cutting will be blown away from the seat of the cutting operation.

Bar 89 may be mounted at one end as by means of screw Qt! to the body it of the carriage 9. Said bar may extend outwardly in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage and may carry at its outermost end a member 9! which may be secured to said bar by screws 92 or the like. The end of the member 9! may be hookshaped as shown best at 93 in Fig. 4. The member SH may be constructed of a resilient material and may carry a nut 94 adjacent the hook 93. An adjusting screw 95 may be threadedly posi tioned through nut 9 and through the member 9!, the end of said screw bearing upon theend cf the bar 89. As will be hereinafter more fully described, bar 89 and member Qt comprises the mechanism for feeding the work to the operating zone.

Mounted at the opposite end of the bar 86 on the body Ill of carriage 9 is a lug so," said lug being secured to a rearwardly projecting por tion 91 of the body it by means of'screw 93: A pin 99 may be carried at the end of lug Q6 and is adapted to pivotally support member I953. The free end of member I fifi" maybe hook-shaped as indicated at Hit in Fig. 17. A coil spring i532 may be confined at one end within an aperture provided in extension 9?, the opposite end of said coil spring being confined within an aperture provided in the member Hid, said coil spring actingto urge member i 538- in a counter=clock-- wise direction about the pivot pin 99 as'viewed in Fig. 1'7. The member together with its hook shaped end HG! comprises the means whereby'the finished work is removed from the'opel ating zone. This will be hereinafter merc fully described.

For the sake of illustrating the operation of my machine, its useas a device for finishing strips or rules to be used in printing will be described; Further, to simplify the description, knives 47 are shown as having square edges which are adapted to merely plane a square surface upon an edge of a roll or strip such as indicated at H33 in Fig. 19, the surface its being the planed surface. I

The machine may be charged with a. plurality of strips ass, Figs. 4 and c, as said strips are produced from the molds of the extruding may, chines. A series of such strips are disposed on edge with their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, a plurality of said strips being positioned side by side. as indicated in Figs. 4-. and 5a. Said strips may be positioned upon the lower portion 5 of the top of the machine and the inner-most stripv may be disposed adjacent shoulder llld Fig. 9, formed at the juncture of the top surfaces 5 and 8. When the rod 6! is so reciprocated as to. cause the top of chain it to move to the left as viewed J in Figs. 4 and 5a, carriage 9 will also move to ward the left.

strip ltli': until carriage ,9 arrives at the-position shown in Fig. 5a. When the carriage has traveled to this position the hook 93 will spring over the end of the inner-most strip use and the-point of said hook will be positioned immediately ad-- jacent the center of the end of the strip. atively thick strips are adapted to be operated.

upon, screw Q5 may be rotated to permit the hook-shaped member 93 to move a sufiicientdistance so as to contact the center'of the :end of the strip; Ifnarrow strips areto be operated upon, screw Q5 may be so adjusted as to restrict the lateral movement of the hook-shaped member 93 so that said hook-shaped member will not tend to feed more than one strip I05. When rod 6% reciprocates in the opposite direction, carriage 9 will be movedto the right, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5a and in so moving the hook 93will move the inner most strip H35 longitudinally in a direction parallel to the movement of the-carriage. cally brought to the operatingzone.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, when the strip is thus fed to the operatingzone, means is provided for properly aligning said stri in the operating zone andrigidly clamping the same therein. After this operation is performed, rod 6i will reciprocate in'the opposite direction whereby the knives il will cut or plane the upper edge or surface of the strip E95 which is held in the operating zone. When the "carriage 33 moves to the position shown in Fig. 5a. and hook 93 is so disposed as to feed another strip into the operating zone, the member HOB will be brought to the position shown in Fig. So, that is, the hook iii! will have sprung behind the end of the strip which isthen in the operating zone. It can readily be seen that when rod iii reciprocates in the opposite .directionto move carriage t to the right, hook it! will act to remove the planed strip from the. operating zone simultaneously with the action of hook 93, feeding afresh strip to the operating zone.

As has been hereinbefore'described, bevel gear 58 is carried at one end of shaft 55. At the opposite end of said shaft a cam iii'lis mounted, said cam being substantially circular in shape but having a segment removed so as to provide a flat surface its. at its lowerv end as at Hit in frame I and may carry intermediate its length a follower i I I which is adapted to ride upon the surface of cam I07, said follower being maintained in contact with said surface by means of coil spring H2 secured by the linkv E89 and frame i. The upper end of link Edd may project through an opening H3 in the top 5 and shoulder Hi6 may be provided with a recess fileadjacent said opening in which the end of link 5 3%? may be positioned'when roller iii is on the circular portion of cam Mil; As has been hereinbefore described, when member itii'and hock iti remove the strip lilfi'from the operating zone after the same has been planed or otherwise operated upon, said strip is carried longitudinally toward the left end of the machine unt l the end of said strip abuts the strip H5.

The timing of the machine is such that when the finished strip is thus discharged from the operating zone, follower ill will be brought into contact with the fiat surface I63 of cam Ifl'i. Coil spring H2 is then free to urge link we toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 9 therebycausing the end of said link to leave recess in shoul- In so moving, the point-ofthehook 93 rides over the side of the inner-most If rel- In this manner a strip N35 is automati- A link we may be pivoted d I by means of pin I26.

at its end and a follower roller I27 may be jour-- vnalled between said arms. I to contact the peripheral, surface of cam II'I said Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 8, II 6,

H1, H6, H9 and I20 indicate cams which are.

mounted upon shaft 55. As will be hereinafter more fully described, cams II6 and I20 are of similar contour and cams Ill and H9 are of similar contour. Cams H6, H1, H9 and I20 are utilized to actuate mechanism to properly align and temporarily hold the strip I05 in the operating' zone. Cam I I6 together with its accompanying mechanism, to be hereinafter more fully described, is adapted to actuate means to hold the strip I65 in the operating zone during the planing or cutting of said strip. The mechanisms associated with cams H6 and H1 is identical with the mechanisms associated with cams I20and H9 and for clarity of description only one set of mechanisms will be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 11 and 12, a bar 'I2I may be secured to thefront side 2 of the frame I as by means of screws I22, said strip carrying-lugs or bearings I23. It is to be understood, of course, that similar lugs or bearings I23 are also associated with cams II9, I20. A shaft I 24 may be positioned within bearings !23 and an arm I25 may be rigidly secured to said shaft as Arm I25 may be bifurcated Roller I21 is adapted contact being maintained by gravity or the weight of arm I25. A second arm I28 may be rigidly secured at its end to shaft I24, the opposite end of said arm being secured to a transverse bar I29 by means'of bolt I30. The ends of bar I29 may comprise restricted cylindrical'shafts I3I which may be journalled in oppositely disposed bearings I32 which, in turn, are carried at intermediate portions of fingers I33. Fingers are connected together by the transverse strap I34 which is bolted to the rear ends of said fingers. As shown best in Figs. 13 and 14, the upper surface of the transverse strap is arcuate in shape which permits a slight deflection of fingers I33. The central portion of strap I34 may be secured to the top of link I35 which extends downwardly from said strap. The lower end of link I35 is pivotally connected between parallel plates I36, said pivotal connection comprising pin I31. Plates I36 4, are of substantially triangular contour and are pivotally connected at one corner of the triangle so formed upon shaft I24. Pin I3'I is positioned at an adjacent corner of the triangle and a roller I38 is journalled between said plates at the remaining corner of the triangle so formed, said roller being adapted to ride upon the surface of cam II6.

In operation when hook 63 carried by bar 89engages the rear end of the innermost strip I05 upon the table top 4 and rod 6! moves in such a direction as tocause the carriage to' move to the right and the upper portion of block I56.

the leftas viewed in Figs. Hand 12. By mean of the linkage arrangements associated with'each of said rollers, a compound movement is imparted to fingers I33. Link I35 tends to raise the rear ends of fingers I33. Simultaneously link I28 moves an intermediate portion of said fingers to the right and downwardly as viewed in Figs. 11 and. 12. Since at this time the strip I05 is disposed adjacent shoulder I06, the free ends of fingers I33 contact the upper edge of said strip and force said strip downwardly and toward shoulder I06 therebysecurely seating said strip.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, while said strip is held by fingers I33 in this position, a locking means is applied to strip I65 so that the same may be maintained in rigid position while the carriage passes thereover.

A' plate I45 may be mounted'upon the central ,upper portion of the front side 2 of the frame I,

said plate being secured thereto by means of screws I46. Spaced apertured lugs or bearings I41 may be formed integral with plate I45 and a shaft I43 may be journalled in said lugs. Shaft I48 may carry a pair of spacedlinks I49, said links being carried intermediate their length whereby shaft I48 serves as apivot about which said links may be rocked. Links I46 may be maintained in ,the adjusting screw I53 and at its opposite end to tie rod I50. The effective length and, hence, the tension of spring I52 may be varied by manipulating nut I54 which is engageable with screw I53.

The upper inner face of each of the links I49 may carry a conical projection I55, said conical projections being disposed opposite to each other.

A block I56 maybe positioned between the upper end of links I49 and may be provided with opposite indentations adapted to receive the apices of the conical projections I55. Block I56 may be substantially L-shaped in cross section as shown best in Figs. 13 and 14, and may be provided with a slot I51.

A vise-like plate or jaw' I58 may be mounted upon the top 4 and is adapted to be transversely slidable upon said top, said plate being cooperatively associated with dove-tail guides I59.

One portion of the L-shaped block I56 isadapted to be positioned overthe central part of plate I58 and locking screws I60 are adapted to pass through slot I51 and threadedly engage in plate I58. Screws I60 may. have polygonal shaped heads I6I which terminate in integral washers I62 whereby contact is made between screws I66 A set screw I63 may be threadedly positioned in block I56, the inner end of said screw'beingadapted to contact the edge of plate I58 whereby movement of said screw permits variable spacing between the edge of plate I58 and block I56. When the desired cooperative arrangement or spacing is obtained betweenblock I56 and plate I56, screws I66 may be tightened to lock said block and plate as an integral unit.

In operation, as shaft 55. rotates, follower I5I rides upon the surface of cam H8. The surface of cam H8 is so designed that fora major portion of its periphery follower I5I is maintained to the left as viewed in Fig. 14. For the remaining portionof its .periphery,jfollower II ispermitted to. move to the right. It can. readilybe seen that inasmuch as'follower I5I is positively maintained in contact with the cam surface by means of spring. I52, links I 48 will be rocked about the pivot shaft Mdandplate I58 will thereby be moved transversely upon top 4. 'The timing of the machine is such that after a strip I85 has been introduced into the operating zone and fingers I33 have actedto properly align said strip adjacent shoulder Ith ca-m H8 will have sorotatedas to bring thehigh surface of said cam into contact with follower I5I. As is apparent, links I49 will be .rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in.Figs. 13 and l4'thereby moving plate 158 inwardly toward strip W6. .In this manner said strip is firmly clamped within the operating zone. After, plate I 58 has so. clamped strip I05 in operative position, cams H6; H1, H9 and I29 act to permit fingers I33 to move away from .the upper edge of strip I05. -At-this period rod (it so moves to cause carriage 9.to pass over the stripclamped in the operating zone.

As has been hereinbefore described, a plate Ifiis-positioned upon the upper surface of top 4 adjacent thepoint of introduction 'of .strips I05 to the operating zone. .A similar plate iii i is positioned at the opposite end of plate I 59,

in other words, at the discharge end. of the operating zone.

As has been hereinbefore pointed out,. carriage 9 may be equipped with tools other than .the usual planing knives in order to perform the desired operations upon the work within the operatingzone. Referring particularlyto Figs. 20 and 22, it will be seen that the...knives capable of being carriedby the carriage may be vsuch as to-cut grooves I65in' the upper .edgeiof a strip 166. Of course, the contour of said groovesmay be triangular-as shown or may be semi-circular. In addition, if desired, one or more of" the toolholding. units maybe utilized. For instance, one of the tools may be adapted to out a groove such asgroove I67 shown in Fig. 21. Another of the tools may be adapted. to provide a'series'of transverse indentations such as those shown at I68 in Fig. 21. Inthis latter case the tool would perform no cuttingfunction'whatsoeverbut would be of such design as to.mere1y roll .upOn'Jthe upper surface of'the strip. Another manner in'which the tools in. carriage l9.may be arranged isto .provide a tool in thefirsttool holder which is capable of .producing .indentations similar to those shown at I68 and provide one or moreof' the remaining tool holders with a knife or knivesto level or plane the intended sur-facetdremove .any inequalities of said surface which ..may .be

produced by the knurling or indenting tool.

Describing acomplete operation of my machine, with a plurality of strips I051 properly. disposedupon the feed-end of: the machine and the motor 48 set in operation, rod '6I moves carriage 9 to the left as vieweddn Fig. 1 until the point of hook 93is positionedimmediately'behindthe end of the innermost strip. At .this period rod ti reverses its direction and moves carriage Elto the right. In so movingthe carriage the innermost strip 265 is moved longitudinally and passed within slot I39 between plate Iii] and shoulder I06. The. movement of the strip .is continued until said strip is positioned between. shoulder. Hit

thisphase of the operation cams H6, II! and H9 and IE6 move to cause fingers l33totemporarilyclamp thestrip in desired'position within the operating zone and immediately there- L after cam EIIS acts'to'move plate I58 transversely into contact with the side of the strip in the oper- 'ating'zone.

While the aligning and clamping operations are taking place, carriage S'remains at its furthermost position at the right. This hesitation or temporary immovability of carriage Q is brought about by the construction of gears 56 and5l. As can be readily seen in Figs. Band '7, gear" 58 is a driving gear and the gear 5? is a driven gear. A

portion I65 of the toothed face'of gear 56 is constructed as a blank, in other words, the area I65 comp-rises a portion of the surface of'a cone, said area beingon the pitch circle of the gear E-fi. A portion of the toothed face of gear 5] is'so constructed as to register'with the blank portion' cams H6, H1, H8, H9 and I20 operate to align and clamp the strip in the operating 'zone.

After gear 56 has so moved as to bring the first thermost travel to the rightand at this .period tooth adjacent the area IE5 into contact with Fri, rod tI will beso moved as to.cause. the carriage totravel toward the leit'asviewe'd inFig. l. When the carriage passes over the operating zone the tools mountedin said carriage operate upon the strip firmly clamped within the operating zone. When. the cutting or indentingor knurling action is completed,'carriage 9 will be in. the

position shown in Fig..5a and as can. readily be seen,.hook-93 is inposition tomove a fresh strip into the operating zoneand hook MI is in posi-' tion to removethe plane. strip. from the operating zone. 'However, prior to movement of the carriage from left to right, cam '8 will have re- -.volved .to the position which permits plate I58 to.be retracted from. itsclampingposition there- ..byreleasing the strip I05 within-the operating zone. When .the striphas thus .beenremoved from theoperating.zone,-.the.ifiat face. I88 of cam IE1 has revolved to ..a .position...in .contact with .iollowe'r III, thereby permitting .leverlfliito rock whichlaterally movesthe-Hdischarge strip away 'from theslotbetween plate I64 and shoulder III-i.

..It .-is frequently desirable in manufacturing .s,rips for printing purposes, similar. to strip IE6, that the grooves i651. bewavy. orv irregular. instead of straight as shown. To accomplish this object, a barillfi' may be=mountedadjacent .the..path of travel of the. carriage 9,-said barbeing mounted upon blocks IIJI. That edgeof bar I00 which faces the carriage .although .shown .as being straight,-may be of wavy or irregular contour,

corresponding to the waves of the groovetobe out. By loosening set screws 38 .and' byproper adjustment of screws- 25 the outer edges of the tool carriers may be brought to abutting relationship with respect to the wavy edge of bar IGQ,

said tool carriers being maintained in contact with'the wavy edge of saidbar under the infiuence of springs-26. It can readily be seen that as each tool carrier moves along said'bar the .thefirst tooth adjacent the area 165 on gear knife 41 carried by said tool carrier will trace a path similar to the contour of the bar. Hence, by changing the contour of the contacting edge of the bar, substantially any desired contoured groove may be cut in the strip.

It may be desired to cut, groove or plane two or more strips simultaneously. With my device this may be conveniently done by adjusting hook member 93 to feed more than one strip at a time or the strips as placed on table 4 may be previously clamped together in units of two or more andmay be fed to the operating zone while so clamped.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage and secured to the leading end thereof for slidably feeding a strip to said operating zone, means carried by said frame for aligning said strip within said operating zone, means mounted upon said frame for thereafter clamping said aligned strip within said operating zone, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone while moving longitudinally thereof.

2. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame having a substantially horizontal bed, a carriage mounted for intermittent reciprocal longitudinal movement over said bed, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for engaging and feeding a strip to said operating zone when said carriage moves backwardly over said frame, means carried by said frame for aligning said strip in said operating zone, separate means mounted upon said frame for clamping said aligned strip within said operating zone, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone.

3. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent longitudinal movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for feeding a strip to said operating zone when said carriage moves backwardly over said frame, means carried by said frame for aligning said strip within said operating zone, cam actuated means mounted upon said frame for thereafter clamping said aligned strip within said operating zone, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone, and engaging means associated in timed relationship with said carriage for removing the strip acted upon from said operating zone simultaneously with the introduction of a fresh strip to said operating zone.

4. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame having a feed platform at one end, a discharge platform at the opposite end and an operating platform in the center, a carriage movable forwardly and backwardly over said operating platform, a tool carried by said carriage, an engaging arm carried by said carriage for feeding a strip from said feed platform to the operating platform upon backward movement of said carriage, and an engaging arm carried by said carriage for simultaneously moving a second strip from said operating platform to said discharge platform and means for laterally moving the discharged work on said discharge platform.

5. A mechanism of the .type described which comprises in combination, a frame having a feed platform at one end, a discharge platform at the opposite end and an operating platform in the center, a carriage movable forwardly and backwardly over said operating platform, a tool carried by said carriage, means carried by said carriage for feeding a strip from said feed platform to the operating platform upon backward movement of said carriage, and separate means carried by said carriage for simultaneously moving a second strip from said operating platform to said discharge platform, and means for thereafter displacing said second strip laterally upon said discharge platform.

6. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for feeding a strip to said operating zone, cam operated means carried by said frame and terminating in fingers for vertically and laterally displacing and aligning said strip in said operating zone by a compound movement imparted thereto by said cam, means mounted upon said frame for clamping said aligned strip within said operating zone, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone.

'7. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for feeding a strip to said operating zone, cam operated means terminating in fingers carried by said frame for aligning said strip in said operating zone, cam operated means mounted upon said frame for clamping said aligned strip within said operating zone, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone.

8. A strip planing machine comprising in combination, -a frame, a carriage mounted for movement upon said frame, a planing tool mounted upon said carriage, an operating platform upon said frame over which said carriage passes, means for automatically feeding a strip to said operating platform, movable means for laterally aligning said strip on said platform, means for thereafter clamping said strip on said platform whereby said strip is planed when the carriage passes longitudinally thereover, means for automatically engaging and slidably removing the planed strip from the operating platform carried adjacent the trail end of said carriage, and means carried by" said carriage for removing cuttings from" said operating platform when the carriage moves thereon.

9 A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame having a substantially horizontal bed, a carriage mounted for intermittent reciprocal movement longitudinally of and over said bed, an operating zone on said bed and extending laterally onto said bed adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage and secured to and extending therefrom for feeding a strip to said operating zone, means carried by said frame for aligning said strip in said operating zone by a compound movement imparted thereto, means mounted upon said frame for clamping said strip within said operating zone while the same is held therein by the aligning means, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone While being carried longitudinally thereof.

16. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for engaging and feeding a strip to said operating zone, means carried by said frame for aligning said strip in said operating zone, means mounted upon said frame for thereafter clamping said strip within said operating zone while the same is held therein by the aligning means, said aligning means being rendered inoperative after said clamping means has acted, said tool in being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to act upon the strip clamped in said zone.

11. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame having a substantially horizontal bed, a carriage mounted for intermittent reciprocal movement longitudinally thereof and extending over said frame, an operating zone on said bed adjacent the path of movement of said carriage, a tool mounted upon said carriage, and automatic cam actuated means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage and extending laterally onto said bed for clamping a strip in said operating zone during forward movement of said carriage.

12. A mechanism of the type described which comprises in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for intermittent movement forwardly and backwardly over said frame, an operating zone on said frame adjacent the path of movement of said carriage comprising a substantially horizontal continuous bed and lateral abutment adjacent thereto, a tool mounted upon said carriage, automatic means associated in timed relationship with the movement of the carriage for slidably feeding simultaneously one or more strips to said operating zone, movable means carried by said frame for vertically and laterally aligning said strips in said operating zone by a compound movement, means mounted upon said frame for thereafter clamping said strips within said operating zone, said tool being carried forwardly adjacent said operating zone being adapted to actupon the strip clamped in said zone while moving longitudinally thereof.

CLIFFORD E. IVES. 

